CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting
Monday, September 15, 2025
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Palo Alto City Council meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend by teleconference or in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda.
The meeting will be broadcast on Cable TV Channel
26, live on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto
, and streamed to Midpen Media
Center
https://midpenmedia.org
.
VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
(
https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/362027238
)
Meeting ID: 362 027 238 Phone:1(669)900-6833
PUBLIC COMMENTS
General
Public
Comment
for
items
not
on
the
agenda
will
be
accepted
in
person
for
up
to
three
minutes
or
an
amount
of
time
determined
by
the
Chair.
General
public
comment
will
be
heard
for
30 minutes.
Additional
public
comments,
if
any,
will
be
heard
at
the
end
of
the
agenda.
Public
comments
for
agendized
items
will
be
accepted
both
in
person
and
via
Zoom
for
up
to
three
minutes
or
an
amount
of
time
determined
by
the
Chair.
Requests
to
speak
will
be
taken
until
5 minutes
after
the
staff’s
presentation
or
as
determined
by
the
Chair.
Written
public
comments
can
be
submitted
in
advance
to
and
will
be
provided
to
the
Council
and
available
for
inspection
on
the
City’s
website.
Please
clearly
indicate
which
agenda item you are referencing in your subject line.
PowerPoints,
videos,
or
other
media
to
be
presented
during
public
comment
are
accepted
only
by
to
at
least
24 hours
prior
to
the
meeting.
Once
received,
the
Clerk
will
have
them
shared
at
public
comment
for
the
specified
item.
To
uphold
strong
cybersecurity
management
practices,
USB’s
or
other
physical
electronic
storage
devices
are
not
accepted.
Signs
and
symbolic
materials
less
than
2 feet
by
3 feet
are
permitted
provided
that:
(1)
sticks,
posts,
poles
or
similar/other
type
of
handle
objects
are
strictly
prohibited;
(2)
the
items
do
not
create
a
facility,
fire,
or
safety
hazard;
and
(3)
persons
with
such
items
remain
seated
when
displaying
them
and
must
not
raise
the
items
above
shoulder
level,
obstruct
the
view
or
passage
of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting.
TIME ESTIMATES
Listed
times
are
estimates
only
and
are
subject
to
change
at
any
time,
including
while
the
meeting
is
in
progress.
The
Council
reserves
the
right
to
use
more
or
less
time
on
any
item,
to
change
the
order
of
items
and/or
to
continue
items
to
another
meeting.
Particular
items
may
be
heard
before
or
after
the
time
estimated
on
the
agenda.
This
may
occur
in
order
to
best
manage the time at a meeting or to adapt to the participation of the public.
1 September 15, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
CALL TO ORDER
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
PUBLIC COMMENT (5:30 - 6:00 PM)
Members of the public may speak in-person ONLY to any item NOT on the agenda. 1-3 minutes depending on number of speakers. Public Comment is limited to 30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda.
COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS (6:00 - 6:10 PM) Members of the public may not speak to the item(s).
STUDY SESSION (6:10 - 7:10 PM)
1. 414 California Avenue [25PLN-00140]. Request for Council Prescreening to Rezone the Subject Property from Community Commercial (2) (CC[2]) to Planned Community/Planned Home Zoning and to Allow Construction of a Mixed-Use Building with 37 Units in a Six-Story Structure on a 16,231-Square-Foot (0.37 Acre) Site. CEQA Status: Not a Project.
CONSENT CALENDAR (7:10 - 7:15 PM)
Items will be voted in one motion unless removed from the calendar by three Council Members.
2. PUBLIC HEARING: Adoption of Voluntary Residential Electric Service Time-of-Use Rates (E-1 TOU) as Recommended by the Finance Committee; CEQA Status: Not a Project
3. Finance Committee Recommendation for City Council to Direct Staff to Follow the Reasonable-Cost Analysis Required by Proposition 26 for the Gas Cost of Service Analysis and Collaborate with the Utilities Advisory Commission to Develop Revised Gas Rate Schedules Effective January 2026, Based on Five Design Principles; CEQA – Not a Project
4. Authorization to Execute Amendment to Legal Services Agreement S25193131 with Diepenbrock Elkin Dauer McCandless to Increase Amount by $1,086,000 for Total Not-to- Exceed Amount of $1,171,000; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
5. Approval of Contract Amendment Number 1 to Contract C21177635B with Ingram Library Services in the amount of $255,000 for Print Materials and Services for a new not-to-exceed (NTE) of $455,000; and Contract Amendment Number 1 to Contract C21177635C with Midwest Tape in the amount of $53,000 for Media and Digital Materials and Services for a new not-to-exceed (NTE) of $753,000; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
2 September 15, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
6. Approval of 1) Amendment No. 8 to Contract No. C16163034A with Cumming Management Group, Inc. to Add $208,528, Increasing the Not-to-Exceed Amount to $10,683,771, for Additional Construction Management Services; 2) Professional Services Contract No. S26195542 with 4Leaf, Inc. in the Amount of $150,579 to Provide Inspector of Record Services; and 3) Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Appropriation for the Capital Improvement Fund to Support the New Public Safety Building Capital Improvement Program Project (PE-15001); CEQA Status - Environmental Impact Report for the New Public Safety Building and New California Avenue Area Parking Garage (Resolution No. 9772)
7. Approval of the Third Amended and Restated Purchase Order Number 4521000199 with Altec Industries, Inc., to Increase the Purchase Order Amount by $365,983 to a New Not- to-Exceed Amount of $1,073,075, including a Contingency Amount of $51,099, for the Purchase of Two 2025 Peterbilt 548 Hydraulic Digger Derricks; and Amend the FY 2026 Budget in the Vehicle Replacement and Maintenance Fund and the Electric Fund; CEQA Status – Exempt, Not a Project
8. FIRST READING: Adoption of Four Ordinances, as Recommended by the Retail Committee, to Amend and Reorganize Stormwater and Wastewater Management Requirements by Amending PAMC Chapter 16.09 (Sewer Use Ordinance), Amending Chapter 16.11 (Stormwater Pollution Prevention), Adding New Chapter 16.13 (Requirements for Food Facilities Related to Water Pollution Prevention and Management of Fats, Oils, and Grease), and Adding New Chapter 16.66 (Hauled Liquid Waste); Adoption of Two Resolutions Establishing Regulations to Implement PAMC Chapters 16.11 and 16.13; Adoption of a Resolution Amending and Restating the Administrative Penalty Schedule and Civil Penalty Schedules for Certain Violations of the PAMC; CEQA Status – Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15308
9. QUASI-JUDICIAL. 400 Mitchell Lane [25PLN-00006]: Recommendation From the Planning and Transportation Commission to Uphold the Director’s Decision to Approve a Conditional Use Permit Allowing a Private University Educational Use Within an Existing Building. CEQA Status: Exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities). Zone District: PF.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS (7:15 - 7:30 PM)
BREAK (15 MINUTES)
3 September 15, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
ACTION ITEMS (Item 10: 7:45 - 9:00 PM, Item 11: 9:00 - 10:00 PM, Item 12: 10:00 - 10:15) Include: Report of Committees/Commissions, Ordinances and Resolutions, Public Hearings, Report of Officials, Unfinished Business and Council Matters.
10. Approval of a Director’s Interpretation Pursuant to PAMC Section 18.01.025 Concluding That Noncomplying Residential Gross Floor Area may not be Relocated Within a Structure; Denial of the Associated Appeal; Direction to Prepare a Future Code Amendment for Administrative De Minimis Exceptions to the Zoning Code; CEQA:
Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)
11. Approval of a Third Phase Agreement with Northern California Power Agency for the Purchase of Battery Energy Storage Capacity from Trolley Pass Project LLC, over a Term of up to 20 Years for a Total Not to Exceed Amount of $161.7 Million; CEQA status: not a project under CEQA Guidelines sections 15378(a), (b)(5)
12. Designation of Voting Delegate and Alternate for the League of California Cities Annual 2025 Conference, to be held October 8-10, 2025, in Long Beach, California
ADJOURNMENT
INFORMATION REPORTS
Information reports are provided for informational purposes only to the Council and the public but are not listed for action or discussion during this meeting’s agenda.
A.
Semi-annual Reports of Contracts Awarded by the City Manager, Procurement Officer or Other Designated Employees for the period of January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025; CEQA Status- Not a Project.
B.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) – 2025 Quarter 2 (April– June 2025) Report
4 September 15, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
OTHER INFORMATION
Standing Committee Meetings this week
Rail Committee September 16, 2025
Finance Committee September 16, 2025
Climate Action and Sustainability Committee September 19, 2025 Public Comment Letters
Schedule of Meetings
5 September 15, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Members
of
the
Public
may
provide
public
comments
to
teleconference
meetings
via
email,
teleconference, or by phone.
1. Written public comments
may be submitted by email to
[email protected]
.
2. For
in
person
public
comments
please
complete
a
speaker
request
card
located
on
the
table
at
the
entrance
to
the
Council
Chambers
and
deliver
it
to
the
Clerk
prior
to
discussion of the item.
3. Spoken
public
comments
for
agendized
items
using
a
computer
or
smart
phone
will
be
accepted
through
the
teleconference
meeting.
To
address
the
Council,
click
on
the
link
below to access a Zoom-based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully. ◦
You
may
download
the
Zoom
client
or
connect
to
the
meeting
in-
browser.
If
using
your
browser,
make
sure
you
are
using
a
current,
up-to-date
browser:
Chrome
30 ,
Firefox
27 ,
Microsoft
Edge
12 ,
Safari
7 .
Certain
functionality
may
be
disabled
in
older
browsers
including
Internet
Explorer.
Or
download
the
Zoom
application
onto
your
smart
phone
from
the
Apple
App
Store
or
Play
Store
and
enter
in
the
Meeting ID below.
◦
You
may
be
asked
to
enter
an
address
and
name.
We
request
that
you
identify
yourself
by
name
as
this
will
be
visible
online
and
will
be
used
to
notify
you
that it is your turn to speak.
◦
When
you
wish
to
speak
on
an
Agenda
Item,
click
on
“raise
hand.”
The
Clerk
will
activate
and
unmute
speakers
in
turn.
Speakers
will
be
notified
shortly
before
they
are called to speak.
◦
When
called,
please
limit
your
remarks
to
the
time
limit
allotted.
A
timer
will
be
shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments.
4. Spoken
public
comments
for
agendized
items
using
a
phone
use
the
telephone
number
listed
below.
When
you
wish
to
speak
on
an
agenda
item
hit
*9
on
your
phone
so
we
know
that
you
wish
to
speak.
You
will
be
asked
to
provide
your
first
and
last
name
before
addressing
the
Council.
You
will
be
advised
how
long
you
have
to
speak.
When
called
please limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Meeting ID: 362-027-238 Phone: 1-669-900-6833
Americans
with
Disability
Act
(ADA)
It
is
the
policy
of
the
City
of
Palo
Alto
to
offer
its
public
programs,
services
and
meetings
in
a
manner
that
is
readily
accessible
to
all.
Persons
with
disabilities
who
require
materials
in
an
appropriate
alternative
format
or
who
require
auxiliary
aids
to
access
City
meetings,
programs,
or
services
may
contact
the
City’s
ADA
Coordinator
at
(650)
329-2550
(voice)
or
by
emailing
Requests
for
assistance
or
accommodations
must
be
submitted
at
least
24 hours
in
advance
of
the
meeting,
program,
or
service.
6 September 15, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
California
Government
Code
§84308
,
commonly
referred
to
as
the
"Levine
Act,"
prohibits
an
elected
official
of
a
local
government
agency
from
participating
in
a
proceeding
involving
a
license,
permit,
or
other
entitlement
for
use
if
the
official
received
a
campaign
contribution
exceeding
$500
from
a
party
or
participant,
including
their
agents,
to
the
proceeding
within
the
last
12 months.
A
“license,
permit,
or
other
entitlement
for
use”
includes
most
land
use
and
planning
approvals
and
the
approval
of
contracts
that
are
not
subject
to
lowest
responsible
bid
procedures
and
have
a
value
over
$50,000.
A
“party”
is
a
person
who
files
an
application
for,
or
is
the
subject
of,
a
proceeding
involving
a
license,
permit,
or
other
entitlement
for
use.
A
“participant”
is
a
person
who
actively
supports
or
opposes
a
particular
decision
in
a
proceeding
involving
a
license,
permit,
or
other
entitlement
for
use,
and
has
a
financial
interest
in
the
decision.
The
Levine
Act
incorporates
the
definition
of
“financial
interest”
in
the
Political
Reform
Act,
which
encompasses
interests
in
business
entities,
real
property,
sources
of
income,
sources
of
gifts,
and
personal
finances
that
may
be
affected
by
the
Council’s
actions.
If
you
qualify
as
a
“party”
or
“participant”
to
a
proceeding,
and
you
have
made
a
campaign
contribution
to
a
Council
Member
exceeding
$500
made
within
the
last
12 months,
you
must
disclose
the
campaign contribution before making your comments.
7 September 15, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.